Sunday, January 31, 2016

Book Bundle Release and Review: Dark Obsession by Cynthia Eden

Step into the dark with New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Eden’s sexy “Dark Obsession” romantic suspense series. This anthology contains the following titles: 

WATCH ME – Book 1

Do you like to watch?

Watching gorgeous Gwen Hawthorne isn’t a hard job—but it certainly is tempting. Chance Valentine has tried to keep his distance from the sexy socialite for years, but when her father hires him to keep watch on her—as a twenty-four, seven bodyguard—Chance knows his control is about to be pushed to the limit.
Chance soon realizes that he isn’t the only one watching Gwen. Someone else is out there, a stalker who won’t rest until Gwen is destroyed. Every day, every moment…Gwen is in danger. And Chance knows that if he can’t unmask the stalker, then he may just lose the only woman he has ever loved.

WANT ME - Book 2

Sophie Sarantos has a weakness for dangerous men. She doesn’t like safe lovers—she likes men with a wild, rough edge. But Sophie may have attracted a lover who is too dangerous, even for her. Someone is stalking Sophie, slipping into her home, watching her day and night. The stranger seems to know all of Sophie’s darkest secrets, secrets that should never be revealed.

Out of options, Sophie turns to ex-solider Lex Jensen for protection. Lex is part owner of VJS Protection, Inc., and Sophie hires him as her bodyguard. She thinks Lex is one of the “good guys” out there, but she couldn’t be more wrong.

Lex has his own secrets. Dark, deadly secrets. And as his feelings for Sophie grow, Lex knows that he is going to have to stop pretending to be a gentleman and, instead, he’ll have to show Sophie who he really is. A man trained to kill. A man too used to evil. A man who will take any risk…as long as he can claim Sophie.

NEED ME – Book 3

Innocent…or guilty?

The cops think that Julianna Smith is a murderer. No one will listen when Julianna claims she’s innocent, and as the suspicions mount against her, only Julianna knows the truth…a killer is hunting her. Somewhere in the darkness, a stalker is closing in and preparing to deliver a final justice that she can’t escape.

Devlin Shade isn’t a man who trusts easily, and when Julianna Smith walks into VJS Protection, he’s well aware of her reputation—the sexy blond could be a cold-blooded murderer. Only when he looks at her, cold is the last thing that Devlin feels. There’s an instant attraction between them—hot, fierce, primal. And he agrees to take her case. He’ll be her bodyguard. He’ll keep her safe from the enemy hunting her, and he’ll also find out the truth about the mysterious Julianna. If she is a killer, he’ll turn her over to the cops himself.

BEWARE OF ME – Book 4

Criminal. Killer. Monster. Ethan Barclay has been called many things in life, and he usually doesn’t care what people say about him. He’s tough, hard, and brutal when he needs to be. But even the most dangerous of men can have a weakness. Ethan’s weakness has—and always will be—Carly Shay.

Their pasts are tied together—twisted and melded by blood and death. Walking away from Carly was the hardest thing that Ethan ever did, but it was also his one good deed. He knew Carly deserved far better than him, and he wanted her to have a perfect life, a life that didn’t involve paying for Ethan’s sins.

Only now the secrets from their past have been revealed, and Carly’s life is on the line. Ethan’s enemies, Carly’s enemies—the predators are closing in on them. But Ethan isn’t going to let Carly be threatened. He will move heaven and hell to protect her. He won’t lose Carly, not again, and for those foolish enough to try and take her from him…they are about to see just how deadly Ethan truly can be.

Author's Note: Each title in the anthology is also available as an individual purchase
I love these books and lucky you can purchase them in a bundle. I had to read them one at a time and then wait for the next one. These are great romantic suspense books. They are short but are also complete stories that are interconnected to each other.

I love these books and lucky you can purchase them in a bundle. I had to read them one at a time and then wait for the next one. These are great romantic suspense books. They are short but are also complete stories that are interconnected to each other. I give this box set 5 stars.  If you want you can sign up for Cynthia's newsletter here. And you can go here and purchase them. 





Friday, January 29, 2016

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Storm Damaged by Kerry Adrienne


STORM DAMAGED by Kerry Adrienne!

In another time and place, she’d be exactly the kind of woman he’d want to date. And more. If only…


About STORM DAMAGED:

Title: Storm Damaged
Author: Kerry Adrienne
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Publisher: Loose Id
Print Length: 231 pages
Format: Digital
Digital ISBN: 978-1-68252-044-4

Synopsis:
In a world where humans don’t know mermaids exist, Mari leaves her home in the ocean to escape her mother, her betrothed, and her tribe’s expectations in order to make a go of independence on land. Chase, former Navy diver and self-appointed curmudgeon-who-isn’t-worthy-of-love, lost his brother in a freak diving accident and now fears the ocean he once loved.

When a hurricane threatens, they have to work together to save everything they've worked so hard to build. With Mari's betrothed on the rampage over a centuries-old vendetta, the storm isn't the worst thing they'll have to face.



Read an Excerpt:

Mari’s lower lip trembled and she rubbed her palms against her knees and looked back toward Inna. She was in trouble.

Big trouble.

Inna stood, unmoving, and staring at her. She reached to her throat, but words had dried on her

tongue. She shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when she was finally getting Chase to relax. Not when she thought things were finally getting better. Not when she’d finally pushed her betrothal out of her mind, at least for the moment.


Mari looked from Chase to Inna, then back to Chase. What to do? What to say? The only way this situation could be worse was if Inna saw everything… Oh gods, how long had he been watching?

He’d kill them both.


“He’s been watching.” Had she spoken aloud, or was her mind screaming? She blinked away the tears and wiped away the trails on her cheeks. It felt like her frightened heart had expanded and she couldn’t breathe. Inna was going to kill them.


Chase jerked upright. “He couldn’t have seen anything inside the cart. It’s okay. He didn’t see anything.”


The setting sun streamed across the park, casting long shadows of rides onto the empty beach like an invading army of giant insects. Inna’s thick shadow moved swiftly along the ground. One thing was for sure, Inna had seen enough to be pissed.


He was headed directly for them.

Purchase:  Amazon | Kobo | ARe







About Kerry Adrienne:

Repped by the fabulous Marisa Corvisiero with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals. Her husband says she’s a marketer’s dream, as she often believes everything she hears—at least initially. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.

In addition to writing, Kerry loves to sew (costumes and cosplay, especially), draw, paint, make chainmail, and play guitar.

Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures. They travel to as many concerts as they can–especially Green Day and Marilyn Manson.

You can visit her much-neglected costuming blog here: http://cloakandcostume.blogspot.com/ Maybe she’ll have time to update it soon.
Follow the week long tour January 25th - 29th and enter to win! One winner will receive a new Kindle! 
Direct link:
http://bit.ly/1UfGlGO

Follow the blitz!
January 25th
Rolo Polo Book Blog Spotlight + Excerpt
Author Lia Davis Interview + Spotlight + Excerpt
Rolo Polo Book Blog Spotlight + Excerpt
Loving Books Review + Spotlight + Excerpt
Corazones Review + Spotlight + Excerpt
Coffee Books and Art Spotlight + Excerpt
Booking with Lana Review + Spotlight + Excerpt

January 26th
T&L Book Reviews Review + Guest Post + Spotlight + Excerpt
Preternatura Guest Post + Spotlight + Excerpt

January 27th
Tantos Livros Tao Pouco Tempo  Spotlight + Excerpt
Room with Books  Spotlight + Excerpt
Reviews by Crystal  Interview + Spotlight + Excerpt

January 28th
Lisa’s Louisiana Home Guest Post + Spotlight + Excerpt
Deal Sharing Aunt  Interview + Spotlight + Excerpt
Let’s Talk About Books Spotlight + Excerpt

January 29th
Becky on Books Guest Post + Spotlight + Excerpt
Book Crazy Scrapbook Mama Spotlight + Excerpt
Kitty’s Book Spot  Guest Post + Spotlight + Excerpt
My Reading Reality Spotlight + Excerpt
Alpha Book Club  Spotlight + Excerpt
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Sunday, January 17, 2016

Review: To win a Mate by Krystal Shannon



Jared VonBrandt wasn't looking for a mate, but when the amber-eyed New Orleans beauty, Elise Blanchard is staring at him from a charity auction block, he can't deny his wolf's desire.

He'll win her at any cost.

Elise Blanchard has never met another werewolf. She spends her full-moon nights locked in her apartment, hoping the neighbors don't see her shift.

A twist of fate gives her an opportunity she'll risk everything to claim.




To Win a Mate is the 3rd story in Krystal Shannan's Somewhere, Texas series. It is about Shifters and this story is Jared VonBrandt's and he's not looking for a mate but he finds her nonetheless and at a charity auction even. The attraction is immediate for both him and Elise. Which in this case is a good thing since her slimy boss has eyes for her and is a complete perv. I was glad she got away from him.
This story is a typical werewolf mate story but it was a fun and enjoyable short read. My only issue was that I would have liked some more back story about Elise. I was intrigued about her story. She was an orphan and didn't know anything about being a werewolf until she shifted. I thought that would have been a story to tell. But alas it was skimmed over.
Still all in all this quick read was a good way to pass a few hours. I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review and I give it 3 1/2 stars.




Friday, January 15, 2016

Review: Led Astray by Kelley Armstrong

Welcome to the many worlds of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong (Otherworld, Cainsville). As her SyFy channel series, Bitten, enters its second season, Armstrong continues to breathe new life into city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Now travel even further with her, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even feudal Japan.

In Led Astray, you’ll discover the stories of new characters from within and outside Armstrong’s popular novels. Here you will find two original tales from Cainsville, plus journeys to and beyond the worlds of Darkest Powers, Age of Legends, Otherworld, and more.

Bold and humorous, passionate and heart-stopping, here is Kelley Armstrong at her versatile best



I love Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series. I've been reading it since it first come out. I've read the majority of the stories in that world including the YA ones. And I got my son and several of his friends that were girls reading those too. So when I received this book for review I was looking forward to reading some of the stories set in her other worlds. And I must say I am going to have to go find the rest of the Cainsville stories. She hooked me with the stories in this one. And the Otherworld series stories was fantastic as I expected.
I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't lost reading these stories since I've not read the books in that series or two of her other series. I could tell that there was more to these stories but they stood alone. I give this anthology a 4 stars and I received it from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.



Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Review: Small Magics by Ilona Andrews


***The stories in this anthology have been previously published*** 

Now collected for the first time, an irresistible compilation of five previously published stories by the bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series; including Kate’s very first meeting with Saiman, some related adventures, and two unforgettable ‘outside’ excursions.

A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT –
In this ‘intro’ to the Kate Daniels world, we meet the extremely ‘shifty’ Saiman for the very first time, when Kate takes on the task of serving as his bodyguard to protect him from some very determined—and dangerous—Russian wizards.

RETRIBUTION CLAUSE –
Saiman’s cousin, Adam—a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster—and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client’s Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her. But is their target even guilty? Magic and mayhem and a little personal chemistry will reveal the truth!

OF SWINE AND ROSES –
A young adult story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into "his" neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can't say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won't even mention the dead guy...

GRACE OF SMALL MAGICS –
Grace has always known she wasn’t like everyone else and that her family has magic abilities. After flying to meet the head of Clan Dreoch in order to fulfill her families’ “duties” as servants, Grace finds herself in the middle of a mage clan war…

MAGIC TESTS –
A short story in the Kate Daniels universe. Kate recruits her teenage ward, Julie, to search out a missing student whose location spell has her hidden somewhere on campus…Now collected for the first time, an irresistible compilation of five previously published stories by the bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series; including Kate’s very first meeting with Saiman, some related adventures, and two unforgettable ‘outside’ excursions.


This is bunch of small stories set in Ilona Andrew's world and most of these have been published in one form or the other. I've read a couple of them but I missed most of these so this was fun read for me.. I especially liked the first one. Saiman's and Kate's relationship entertains me to no end.
I also really liked Of Swine and Roses mainly because of Alena because she was a great heroine. and of course last but not least the last story Magic Test was fabulous. I really love everything about that world and Julie is one of my favorite characters.
I bought this book with my own money and I give it 4 1/2 stars. And am impatiently waiting for more stories from them.





Monday, January 11, 2016

Book Promo and Giveaway: In Time for You by Chris Karlsen


Welcome to the release event for In Time for You by Chris Karlsen. This is a historical romance with time travel and is available for sale now! Check out the book trailer, the excerpt and the giveaway at the end!

In Time for YouAbout the Book:

While horseback riding in the English countryside, sisters, Electra and Emily Crippen find themselves trapped in a tear in time. Thrown back to 1357 England and caught by a local noble, they are in a place that is home but as frightening and unfamiliar as an alien world would be. With no idea how the tear in time came about, the one thing they do know is: they must stay together and stay near to where the event took place in hopes of discovering the way back to their modern life. That certain need to stay together is the first certainty taken from them when one sister is forced to remain in England and one is sent miles away to Wales by royal order.

There is one other hope for help the sisters don’t know exists. It’s Electra’s lover, Roger Marchand. A time traveler himself, he never told her of his past. When he realizes what has happened to the sisters, he enlists the help of a scientist friend to help him open the suspected passageway through time. Any effort to save Electra and Emily will likely cost him his life. This was the time Roger came from, a time when his country, France, was at war with England. If he is discovered on English soil while searching for the sisters, he will either be killed or taken prisoner of war. Any risk is worth saving the life of the woman he loves. 


Excerpt:
While she ate, the button on Electra's sleeve fell out of the frog loop. She didn't hook the button again, reaching for her wine instead. The sleeve pulled back from her wrist to expose her watch, which she hadn't thought to remove. 
"What is that?" Simon asked and pointed to her Seiko.
"A watch." What a bizarre question. There wasn't a corner of the planet that people didn't recognize a wristwatch. 
A frown slowly formed and he stretched across Emily and took hold of Electra's hand to tug it toward him for a better look. He turned her hand over and in a matter of seconds had the clasp undone. 
He brought the candle in front of his trencher closer and held the watch under it. "What do the numbers mean?"
"It's a clock, a miniature timepiece you wear on your wrist."
From his expression, the explanation puzzled him. "Do they not have candle clocks in this Greenland you claim you're from?"
How to explain the abundance of various clocks to a man who apparently has no context for the anything beyond a candle clock or similar ancient means of telling time?
"Are you saying you've never seen a clock?" Emily asked.
"One like this? No, I have not."
Emily bent her head nearer Electra and whispered, "Are you thinking what I am?"
"Sadly, yes."
Simon ran his finger over the watch face. "These small digits, what is their meaning?" 
"It's the date and year: 5.14.15." 
He shook his head. "What year is 15?"
"2015, of course."
"You are mad. It's the year of our Lord, 1357."


About the Author:

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I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books. My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and four wild and crazy rescue dogs.

GIVEAWAY:
$15 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ends Jan. 28th, 2016
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.



This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Review: At Blade's Edge by Lauren Dane

CARINA_1015_97814592#EA282CRowan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Raised at the knee of The First and honed into a weapon by the Hunter Corporation, she wields ancient knowledge from the Goddess Brigid…and is newly married to a powerful Vampire scion.
Though she’d hoped the deadly events in Venice would end the threat to The Treaty she is sworn to protect, Rowan found evidence of a grander conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace that holds humans, Vampires and those with magic back from war. A war that would only hurt the weakest and destabilize the world as we know it.
It’s not so much that someone ordered her assassination that makes her angry—people try to kill her all the time—as it is the risks those she cares for, especially her new husband, now face. Clive Stewart has never tried to pen Rowan in or control her choices. He has his own fires to put out now that he’s married to the most powerful non-Vampire in their world, and Rowan knows it’s a challenge to support her the way she needs while not being too much or not enough.
The organization that gave her a purpose, a home, roots and a path when she’d run from The Keep at seventeen has betrayed her. Now, instead of on a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is in London gathering her allies and the evidence necessary to drive out the rot within Hunter Corp. and expose whoever is at the top.
Rowan is a predator and this threat is prey. She’ll burn it down and salt the earth afterward. On her terms.

Its been a while since I've read the first few stories in this series and I think I've actually missed one. But this didn't effect me in reading this story. I was able to read this story and wasn't confused at all.  Rowan is fantastic heroine. She smart, ballsy, and honorable. And while we didn't get as much of Clive in this one I quite liked him. Especially the way he treated Rowan. His parents were great too especially his mama. Even if his uncles were butt heads. I am going to go back and do a reread on these as soon as the next one comes out which I hope is real soon. I wasn't very happy with the ending of this one because it ended sort of abruptly. Granted she did clean house but it left you with a lot of questions. And IMO it was a something of a cliffhanger. So if you have issues with that you might want to wait until the next one comes out which I am hoping fixes that. I understand that there was happy with Clive and a house cleaning but dang it the situation at the end was awful and unresolved. When I read the last page I thumbed to the next one and there was not more. I went WTH. Really? And it was really true. It completely left me hanging. So with that all being said I give this a book 4 stars. Loved the story and these characters and world but dog gone it I didn't think the story was finished. Looking forward to the next one in this series and hoping that it resolves the unresolved. 
I was given this book via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.




Monday, January 4, 2016

Review: Driven by Kelley Armstrong

Cains are known for being big, brutish and not-too-bright. The mutt clan embodies all the supernatural world’s worst stereotypes about werewolves. But not even the Cains deserve to be hunted down and skinned like animals.

When young Davis Cain comes to the Pack for help, Alpha Elena Michaels can’t refuse him. It isn’t about morality or justice. It’s about not letting anyone think they can do this to werewolves and get away with it.

But Elena is also dealing with the Pack’s homegrown monster—Malcolm Danvers, onetime enforcer, full-time psycho. Malcolm is now under Elena’s control, as part of the most difficult decision she’s had to make as leader. But if she has to let Malcolm in, she’s going to make full use of him…and the best person to catch monsters is one who knows exactly how they think.

It's been awhile since I read a story about Elena and the werewolves and I was especially tickled with this one. We got to catch up with what every one was up to. I really liked that Malcolm Danvers asked to brought back into the fold. He's a jerk but by the end I came of the conclusion that Karma is a bitch and he got what was coming to him. He makes a perfect tool. and Elena is right to use him. It was good to see that not all the Cain's are TSTL. some of them are worth helping. i liked Davis. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he was alright. And OMG Elena's and Clay's children. I loved them and I can't wait till they get grown and we can get their story.  Of course this was a great story with plenty of action. I was given this book via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and I give it 5 stars.




Saturday, January 2, 2016

Review: Mine to Protect by Cynthia Eden

He agreed to protect her…not love her. 

Victor Monroe left behind a brutal past when he decided to become an FBI Agent. He knows that other agents think he’s too cold, that he has ice in his veins, but he doesn’t care what folks say about him. He gets the job done—always. No matter the cost. 

Then he’s blackmailed into guarding…her. 

Zoe Peters, ex-showgirl, daughter of a mob boss and drug dealer, a witness who wants to vanish. Zoe is wild, beautiful, and on far too many hit lists. It’s now Victor’s job to keep her safe—a job that Zoe makes damn difficult. But keeping her alive is his mission. It's supposed to be strictly professional between them. Just another case. Only… 

He never counted on falling for her. 

Zoe is not the woman he expected. She isn’t cold or hard. She lights up the room when she walks into it, and despite the hell surrounding her, Zoe is good. Probably too good for Victor because Zoe doesn't know about the secret deal that Victor worked out with her father. Zoe doesn't know that Victor intended to use her for information and then turn her over to waiting operatives. 

Desire wasn't supposed to enter the equation. The white-hot lust he feels for Zoe should have never threatened Victor's legendary self-control. But she's under his skin...melting his ice...getting to him... Soon Victor doesn’t care about the law or about the lines he has to cross for Zoe. She is his priority. No one will hurt her, not on his watch. Victor will not rest until every threat to her has been eliminated. And then… 

Zoe will be his.

Zoe is a woman caught between a rock and a hard place. And it her father's fault. He a mafia boss from hell and since he was caught all of the bad guys are trying to get back at him by hurting her. Also the government wants her too but they want her to rat out her father. And it's Victor's job to keep her in protective custody and she keeps trying to get away and disappear.  Unfortunately someone has put a high bounty on her head and Victor's caught up with her again which put them both in the cross hairs of sneaky killer. I loved that though Victor is an FBI agent he's not goody goody. He is definitely falling for Zoe and is determined to do whatever he needs to protect her but Zoe is no slouch in the brains department herself and she is determined to fight for her future. i am not going to give away the ending but needless to say its a HEA. I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I give this one a 4 star review. If you wish you can purchase it here.